Hurricane ‘Ciaran’ raged across Western Europe on Thursday night. At least seven people were killed and many more were injured. They include a woman from Bavaria who was killed by a falling tree and a French truck driver.
Locally, wind gusts reached speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. A storm wave of 21 meters high was measured in Brittany, France. ‘Ciaran’ raged in France, England, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Portugal and Spain were also affected. In total, at least seven deaths and many more injuries were reported. For example, in Le Havre, France, a man was killed while closing his shutters. He was caught by a gust of wind and was fatally injured.
Millions of households without electricity
About 1.2 million households were now without power and hundreds of thousands were disconnected from the mobile phone network. Fallen trees blocked roads and railway lines. The fire brigade responded to get people to safety.
Thousands of households were also temporarily without power on the south coast of England. Hundreds of schools remained closed and rail operators in the Greater London region urged people to make only absolutely essential journeys. Wind speeds of up to 164 kilometers per hour were measured on the island of Jersey in the southwestern English Channel. “The hailstones were heavier and larger than a golf ball and damaged three of our windows,” said one resident.
In Belgium, a passerby was killed by a falling tree and a child by a heavy falling branch. Wind gusts of up to 110 kilometers per hour have been measured in the Netherlands. Hundreds of flights and trains were canceled and shipping was also restricted.
High waves in Mallorca
In Germany, a storm warning was issued for parts of the North Sea coast and a strong wind warning for parts of the Baltic Sea coast. The popular holiday island of Mallorca was also warned of high waves with an orange alarm.
A Foehn storm was expected in Austria on Thursday and Friday. According to Geosphere Austria, strong southern föhn and wind peaks of up to 90 kilometers per hour are expected. The expected size is therefore lower than in Great Britain or France.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
